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Ohio Charter News Weekly - 9/21/18

The Ohio Department of Education last week released much-anticipated school and district report cards. For the first time in six years, report cards included an overall grade. Here is an analysis of Ohio’s Urban 8 cities, comparing charter performance to that of district schools across several measures. While the data are dispiriting overall, some bright spots emerge especially among charter schools. Additionally, the Dayton Daily News provided an analysis of area charter school report cards. Kudos to several high performing charter schools in the Miami Valley.

Last week, U.S. House and Senate members reached agreement on the education portion of a FY 2019 spending bill. Among other important features, the bill would provide $440 million for the Charter School Program (CSP), the highest-ever funding level in the program’s history. A good summary of the CSP and other provisions comes from EdWeek. The bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate; the House currently faces a September 30 deadline to vote. In a timely release, the National Charter School Resource Center is out with a new dashboard providing details on how every state is using their CSP grants.

Charter schools embrace career and technical education

Career and technical education (CTE) is emerging as a promising pathway for students disinclined to pursue college or anxious to join the work force directly upon graduation. Here is a look at five charter schools across the country who are embracing CTE and using vocational education and training in fields such as health care, environmental engineering, and even sports management. Here in Ohio, the Utica Shale Academy began its fifth year of operation this year, giving high schoolers the science and math education needed to earn certification and find employment in the fracking industry.